The geranium family, which includes numerous varieties of plants from Asia and Europe, pelargoniums from Africa, has long attracted the attention of people. Not only decorative indoor geraniums were popular, the beneficial properties of flowers with lacy or figured dissected foliage and flowers of various shapes and colors, fragrant and odorless, were known in ancient Greece.
Already in those distant times, many types of geraniums were considered medicinal crops. From their stems, roots, flowers, decoctions, tinctures, and oil were made. Different types of geraniums are grown in summer cottages and at home. Today we will talk about the beneficial properties of room geranium. The photos posted in this article will help you appreciate the beauty of this unpretentious plant. In addition, you will learn how preparations based on it are prepared.
Geranium room: description
More recently, these beautiful flowering bushescould be seen in almost every home. Then they were pushed aside by luxurious exotic indoor plants (orchids, unusual cacti, palm trees). And only true geranium connoisseurs continue to grow it on their windowsills. All types of indoor plants are divided into two groups:
- blooming, having very beautiful flowers;
- fragrant, in which the flowers are inconspicuous, and the leaves exude a pleasant aroma.
Geranium root is usually branched, only in some varieties it is taproot. The stem can be creeping (ampelous plants) or erect. The leaves are often dissected, less often pinnate, covered with small fine hairs. Color can be different - monophonic, zonal. Colors - shades of green of varying intensity, with a red, grayish or blue tint.
Flowers make up inflorescences, each consisting of five or more rounded petals in white, pink, red, purple hues. In some varieties, they have bright contrasting spots. Geranium blooms with proper care almost all year round. This requires the plant to receive plenty of light and nutrients.
Geranium species
Today, botanists know almost 400 species of wild representatives of the geranium family. The range of these plants is quite wide: from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, from India to the north of Europe. Almost all species have a rich biochemical composition, including hybrids and indoor pelargoniums. Several native varieties of the plant are used infolk medicine.
The most popular types of room geraniums
Zonal geranium. The most common species, with almost 70 thousand varieties. The leaves are whole, with dark circles of varying intensity. The flowers are bright pink or white, simple in shape, double or semi-double
Ivy. This species has long lashes that adorn smooth leaves that hang down. The flower looks great in hanging flowerpots
Royal. Shrub reaching a height of half a meter. The leaves can be either plain or with dark spots or stripes. Flowers are large, simple or double. The colors are very diverse: plain, with colored spots, borders
Scented geranium. Low bushes with inconspicuous flowers. Leaves emit smells of needles, ginger, lemon balm, pineapple, lemon and other plants. The flowers are usually purple or pink. The bush needs to be pinched regularly to form a beautiful crown
The lemon variety, which belongs to the fragrant geraniums, needs to be pointed out, as many flower growers would like to see this plant in their collection. This is a branched shrub with a well-developed nodal rhizome. The leaves are palmately lobed, carved. They are covered with fine hairs that exude fragrance when touched.
Flowers gather in small white-pink umbels. In addition to the aroma and beautiful shape, herbalists are well aware of the beneficial properties of lemon geranium. It greatly relieves the symptoms of manydiseases:
- otitis media;
- epilepsy;
- acute respiratory diseases;
- inflammation of the nasopharynx;
- headaches.
Lemon geranium is an antiseptic, has wound healing and hemostatic properties. In addition, it is used as an excellent deodorant. Lemon geranium is used in cooking. For example, when preparing various drinks, sweets, sweet syrups.
Active study of the beneficial properties and contraindications of geranium began at the end of the 19th century. Scientists were interested in the popularity of this plant among the poor, who used the plant for medicinal purposes. Today, traditional healers and homeopaths highly appreciate the healing properties of geranium, its high activity against pathogenic flora, regenerating and anti-inflammatory properties.
Chemical composition
For the preparation of medicines based on geranium, the roots of the plant, as well as the aerial part, are used. It is in them that a huge amount of useful substances is concentrated. The main value of this plant is geraniol - aromatic alcohol, which is part of the geranium oil. In addition, the composition of the plant includes:
- fructose and glucose;
- saponins;
- flavonoids;
- tannins up to 4%;
- catechins;
- compounds with antiviral and antibacterial properties;
- vitamins K and C;
- carotene;
- alkaloids;
- macro and micronutrients;
- anthocyanins.
For medical purposes, the most commonly used geranium is fragrant, blood red and meadow.
Geranium flower: useful properties
Geranium has powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral and hemostatic properties. Preparations based on this plant can soothe, affect a person's performance, increase resistance to stress, fight insomnia.
The healing properties of geranium include:
- prevention of edema;
- reduce pain and fever;
- beneficial effect on inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes and skin;
- reducing blood pressure.
The plant normalizes the work of the heart and blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract and liver, urogenital area. Traditional healers use the plant to treat radiculitis and osteochondrosis.
Geranium oil
The beneficial properties of geranium oil have been appreciated by dermatologists and cosmetologists. This substance has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and regenerating properties. Thanks to them, geranium oil is successfully used for pustular skin diseases, acne, cellulite treatment and many other cosmetic problems. The mild disinfecting effect and the ability of geranium to influence cell regeneration allow the plant to be used to treat such a serious disease as psoriasis.
Today, geranium oil is used in the treatment of eczema, difficult to treat, severe burns, the effects of frostbite. Geranium oil is effective formigraines, menstrual irregularities. Let's talk more about the help that geranium provides to women.
Geranium for women
Cosmetologists are sure that this female plant is geranium. The beneficial properties of the plant help to eliminate age-related changes. The easiest and most effective way to improve skin color and tone, get rid of wrinkles is to wipe your face every morning with a piece of ice from the juice of geranium leaves.
Pelargonium is no less useful for improving hair structure, eliminating dandruff and itching, and preventing hair loss. A decoction of geranium makes strands elastic and shiny. To prepare it, 50 g of dry crushed raw materials should be poured with 500 ml of water and simmered over low heat for five minutes. After that, leave the broth for an hour in a sealed container. Use it three times a week to rinse your hair. The course of treatment is three weeks.
Mask for aging skin
Mix 20 drops of geranium oil with 1 peach pulp and 25 ml heavy cream. Spread the mixture evenly over the face and décolleté. Wash off the mask with water after half an hour. The procedure must be repeated twice a week.
Acne
To fight acne, you need to prepare a mask of 15 drops of geranium oil, 20 drops of calendula tincture and 20 g of green clay. Apply a thin layer of mass on steamed skin.
Useful properties of geranium for home
Experts believe that this beautiful, low maintenance houseplant has a powerfulpositive energy that helps strengthen family relationships, lonely people - to find their soul mate.
Ivy geranium perfectly purifies the air, destroys staphylococcus bacteria, microbes, eliminates unpleasant odors. The aroma of geranium is not tolerated by mosquitoes, flies, moths.
It is believed that pink geranium is a symbol of a happy and strong marriage. Esotericists use geranium as a powerful charm against love spells. White geranium helps couples get rid of infertility, it must be placed in the bedroom. Pelargonium blood-red protects the inhabitants of the house from quarrels and scandals. Its aroma relieves stress, helps to relax, relieves irritability and fatigue. The aroma of geranium attracts financial well-being to the house: for this, plants with red flowers should be chosen. But in this case, it is necessary to carefully care for the flower - if it gets sick or wilts, you cannot avoid financial ruin. You can lubricate your wallet with geranium essential oil or carry dried leaves in it.
Medications
We said that the beneficial properties of geranium improve the condition of patients with many diseases. An interesting fact that you may not have known. At the first sign of a cold, wrap fresh geranium leaves around your big toes. Leave this compress overnight. In the morning you will feel a surge of strength, the disease will recede.
Geranium juice
Three times a day, instill three drops of juice from geranium flowers into each nasal passage. It's the same toolused for conjunctivitis, but in this case, 1 drop is instilled into each eye. The use of juice is effective for various bleeding - nasal, hemorrhoidal, uterine.
Fresh leaves
The beneficial properties of geraniums are successfully used in the treatment of hypertension, irregular heart rhythm, poor blood flow. And this happens in a rather unusual way - fix a fresh leaf of a plant on your wrist for half an hour. In crushed form, they should be applied to the back with radiculitis and osteochondrosis. With otitis, it is enough to put a leaf of geranium in a sore ear.
Tincture
With nervous and heart diseases, insomnia, you can take 3 ml of alcohol tincture in the morning and evening, diluting them first with a little water. To prepare this drug, it is necessary to grind 30 g of geranium inflorescences and leaves, put them in a dark glass jar and pour alcohol (100 ml). The composition is infused for three days.
Decoction
Decoction of geranium roots, according to herbalists, helps to remove stones from the kidneys, reduce high blood pressure. To prepare it you will need:
- 6 g crushed dry roots;
- 250 ml of water.
Simmer this composition over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Leave the medicine under a closed lid for an hour, strain, add boiled water to the initial volume. Divide the received portion of the product into four equal portions and take them throughout the day before meals.
Compress
Pain relief compressit's easy to cook. Grind 15 fresh geranium leaves, add camphor alcohol (50 ml) and rye flour (50 g). Spread the mass on the affected area, insulate and leave overnight.
Contraindications
Geranium has many useful properties. There are few contraindications to its use for medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, they should be taken into account, especially if you have a predisposition to allergic reactions or it comes to the treatment of babies.
Allergic reaction to geranium oil and its aroma in some people is manifested by respiratory symptoms: runny nose, pain in the eyes, sore throat, cough. The beneficial properties of geraniums will not have the expected effect if the condition worsens due to allergies.
With regard to the treatment of children, all geranium-based products that are intended for ingestion should be taken only with the permission of the pediatrician. External use, as a rule, is limited only by individual intolerance. These requirements are:
- to patients with gastrointestinal problems during an exacerbation;
- pregnant and nursing mothers;
- older people;
- in the presence of thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
We have introduced you to a common indoor flower - geranium. The beneficial properties of this plant will have a positive effect in treatment only if the recipe and dosage are followed.
